FC Cincinnati Falls 3-2 to Orlando City in Preseason Finale

Loss highlights areas for improvement as regular season approaches

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

FC Cincinnati fell 3-2 to Orlando City in their final preseason friendly, leaving the club with a 2-1-2 record as they gear up for the regular season. Orlando opened the scoring early, and by halftime the visitors led 1-0. A second Orlando goal came in the 50th minute, but FC Cincinnati responded with a 77th minute strike from Tom Barlow. Late chances saw FC Cincinnati come close, but they were unable to equalize.

Why it matters

Finishing the preseason with a losing result but a respectable 2-1-2 record gives the coaching staff insight into squad depth and chemistry ahead of the regular season. The performance of young players such as Ademar Chávez and Kevin Denkey may influence roster decisions, while the absence of midfielder Bryan Ramirez underscores roster adjustments that could affect early-season line-ups.

The details

Orlando opened the scoring in the 21st minute through a goal from Evander, assisted by Kevin Denkey. A second Orlando goal came from a chaotic play in the 50th minute. FC Cincinnati responded with a 77th minute strike from Tom Barlow, set up by a quick one-two between Ademar Chávez and Pavel Bucha. Late chances saw Chávez and Bucha combine again, but the shot was saved. Substitutions included the replacement of goal-scorer Barlow with Stefan Chirila at 81 minutes and a flurry of changes at 75 minutes that brought academy players Chávez and Will Kuisel onto the field. Pavel Bucha received a second yellow card in the 64th minute.

  • The match took place on February 12, 2026.
  • Evander scored the opening goal for Orlando City in the 21st minute.
  • Orlando City scored a second goal in the 50th minute.
  • Tom Barlow scored for FC Cincinnati in the 77th minute.
  • Pavel Bucha received a second yellow card in the 64th minute.

The players

Evander

Scored the opening goal for Orlando City.

Kevin Denkey

Assisted Evander's goal for Orlando City.

Tom Barlow

Scored FC Cincinnati's lone goal in the 77th minute.

Ademar Chávez

An academy player who came on as a substitute and contributed an assist.

Pavel Bucha

Received a second yellow card in the 64th minute.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Going forward, the coaching staff could give more minutes to academy stand-outs who showed impact in this match, potentially shaping the starting eleven for the season opener. They may also address defensive lapses that led to Orlando's early goals, possibly tweaking the back line or revising pressing strategies. If the team builds on the attacking spark from Barlow's goal, Cincinnati could see a more balanced offense in the opening weeks.

The takeaway

Finishing the preseason with a respectable 2-1-2 record provides the coaching staff with valuable insights into the squad's depth and chemistry, while the performance of young players like Chávez and Denkey suggests they could earn more playing time as the regular season begins.